Bookstores have entire sections of books about dogs, written by humans. Why not turn that around? Why not have a book about dogs, from the point of view of dogs?
That was Adrian 搁补别蝉颈诲别鈥檚 thinking behind his funny yet informative new book, The World According to Dogs: An Owner鈥檚 Manual. He decided it was time to look inside the mind of the family pet.
鈥淎fter years of having dogs and observing dogs I have come to the conclusion that dogs are far more complex than we think.鈥� Raeside says. 鈥淲hich made me wonder: What do dogs think of us, and how would they like us to treat them?鈥�
Raeside, the Times 91原创鈥檚 editorial cartoonist, has loved dogs for many, many years. That love is evident in his daily comic strip, The Other Coast, and after writing and illustrating more than 20 books, one devoted to dogs was overdue.
As billed, this book is an owner鈥檚 manual for both the new pet owner who is about to experience the delights of letting a hairy, four-legged couch-hog into their lives, and for veteran dog owners who have endured flatulence, dog hair, soiled carpets and more 鈥� and loved every minute of it.
Long-time dog owners can always learn something new, right? And if it isn鈥檛 new, it鈥檚 fun to see it from a dog鈥檚 perspective.
The World According to Dogs starts with the earliest interaction between dogs (nee wolves) and early humans. When was that first time a dog snuck onto a filthy straw sleeping mat and refused to get off?
Using Raeside to bring the message to us, dogs take us through critical aspects of the lives of dogs. From breeding, the training of their humans, exercising, bathroom habits, repairs and maintenance, and much more.
Consider, for instance, whether dogs really like wearing outfits with cute sayings. Are they embarrassed to be seen wearing them at the dog park?
Yes, dogs are served designer specialized dog food, but they prefer that yuck they find on the sidewalk. Of course they would, with the resulting gastric problems that make for many frantic dashes outside, not to mention soiled carpets. (See the chapter on repairs and maintenance for more details.)
This leads us to 鈥� ahem 鈥� the mystery of dog flatulence. In 搁补别蝉颈诲别鈥檚 delicate opinion, dog gas is only a few molecules shy of being declared a weapon of mass destruction. How do dogs know when it鈥檚 the worst time to let one fly?
Another question: What would the world be like if dogs ran the world? Would kitchen counters lowered to dog height become the building code?
Raeside says that according to dogs, there are similarities between them and us. 鈥淲e are closer to dogs than we think. For example: is there any difference between staring at our phones and staring at a squirrel?
鈥淪quirrels are actually far more interesting than any phone!鈥�
What don鈥檛 dogs like? Humans pulling their ears and tails. Being forced to wear choke collars and bark collars, being tied up in the yard, being ignored, having their tails and ears docked, fake ball throws, food teasing, and 鈥� well, it鈥檚 a long list.
Act on the advice in this book, and you will have a happier dog. It really is an owner鈥檚 manual, covering just about everything you would need to know before bringing a dog into your home.
But this isn鈥檛 the book for cat lovers; there are no cats in the book. Well, a couple, but Raeside says that was just to get cat people to buy it.
For dog lovers? This is a five tail-wags out of five.
The World According to Dogs: An Owner鈥檚 Manual, published by Harbour, $14.95 softcover.
- - -
BOOK GIVEAWAY
The Times 91原创 is giving away two copies of Adrian 搁补别蝉颈诲别鈥檚 new book, The World According to Dogs: An Owner鈥檚 Manual. Go to and click on Adrian Raeside to enter. Contest closes at noon on Friday, Nov. 5.
